Downtown Coeur d'Alene Street Fair. Copyright 2010 Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association.

Every summer for the last nineteen years, Sherman Street in the downtown lakefront district of beautiful Coeur d’Alene, ID, has turned into a giant street fair for one sunny weekend. The Coeur d’Alene Downtown Street Fair features over 250 vendors of all kinds of arts, crafts, food, and other wares plus entertainment galore. Around 40,000 people attend the family friendly fair, which runs concurrently with two other big events in the city. It is handicap and stroller friendly so that everyone can feel welcome and comfortable. Hours are Friday and Saturday, 10:00 to 8:00, and Sunday, 10:00 to 5:00.

Also in downtown Coeur d’Alene, check out A Taste of the Coeur d’Alenes, in the city park, with food booths from some of the finest restaurants in the area. This is a great way to sample some of those nice restaurants you have been wanting to try! You can also enjoy great free live music in the park while you relax in the large, grassy sitting areas.

Just a short walk away, or a short free shuttle ride that comes every thirty minutes if you are tired from walking around the street fair, is Art on the Green at the old Fort Sherman Grounds on the North Idaho College Campus. This event, in its forty-second year, brings together 135-plus artists, a variety of performers, over 500 volunteers, and 50,000 visitors for a celebration of art, creativity, and friendship. You can browse a large marketplace of original artist creations or try your hand at creating some of your own art in the hands-on sections for both children and adults, instruction provided. Two stages will showcase jazz, salsa, and Celtic music plus performances by the Lake City Playhouse, the Coeur d’Alene Opera, the Arte Flamenco Dance Theatre, and much more. Hours are Friday, noon to 7:30, Saturday, 10:00 to 7:30, and Sunday, 10:00 to 5:00.

More »

copyright 2010 Riverfront Park

Catch Some Great Live Music Under the Stars

Spokane, WA typically has warm to hot summer nights that are perfect for outdoor concerts. If you are visiting the area for business or vacation, be sure to check out some quality live music in Spokane’s two best-known parks: Manito Park and Riverfront Park. Great music is worth travelling for, and if you are coming to Spokane for a summer show, you can make a fantastic trip by staying at Stratford Suites affordable luxury hotel. Every room has pillow-top mattresses, a full kitchen, leather furniture, and a 50” hi-def. television. Ask about our shop and stay packages, which include a gift certificate to River Park Square mall.

Free Live Music Friday Nights at Manito Park All Summer Long

Starting Friday, June 4, you can relax in the beautiful ambiance of Spokane’s South Hill botanical wonder, Manito Park, and enjoy free live music. The concerts are held at the Manito Park Bench Café (between Mirror Pond and Duncan Gardens) every Friday at 6:00 p.m. Delicious food is available as well as many refreshing summer beverages, including beer and wine. This summer’s lineup includes a diversity of music, including classical guitar and pop/rock, with performances by Paul Grove, Sidhe, Trailer Park Girls, Just Plain Darin, and Matt Russell. For the full schedule, view the poster here.

Mozart in Manito July 13th and 14th

It is hard to imagine a more idyllic setting for listening to a great performance of Mozart than Spokane’s Manito Park on a summer evening. Connoisseur Concerts will present the 20th annual Mozart On A Summer’s Eve, on Tuesday, July 13 at 7:00 p.m. with a repeat performance on Wednesday, July 14 at 7:00 p.m. on the lawn east of Duncan Gardens in Manito Park. Connoisseur Concerts’ Wind Ensemble, directed by Verne Windham, Music Director of Mozart On A Summer’s Eve, will perform, with special guest artists to be announced.

Tickets are $25 for table seating, which includes a gourmet dessert and coffee provided by Luna Restaurant. Tables for eight can be reserved for $200. Tables will be set up at 5:30 p.m. for ticket holders who wish to have a potluck or picnic before the show. Tickets for lawn seating for those who bring their own blankets or chairs are $10 per person and are for the concert only with no food or beverage service. Tickets are available at TicketsWest outlets, by phone at 325-SEAT (1-800-325-SEAT outside Spokane), or online at www.ticketswest.com

Live Music at Riverfront Park This Summer

Riverfront Park, Spokane’s sprawling, magnificent park located downtown on the Spokane River Falls, hosts a wide array of musical acts throughout the summer in their spacious grass meadows. While you are there, be sure to allow some extra time to stroll around the park and explore its numerous attractions, including the historic Loof Carousel, Spokane Falls Gondola Skyride, IMAX Theater, and amusement rides. Below is a listing of some musical highlights in the next couple of months:

Friday, June 18, noon: KPBX Kids Concert with the Spokane British Brass Ensemble, free.

Sunday, June 20, 6:00 p.m.: Slightly Stoopid Concert, $20.00–$35.00.

Saturday, July 3 and Sunday, July 4: live music all day, check http://spokaneriverfrontpark.com/ for schedules.

Sunday, July 25, 9:00 p.m.: Allegro’s Royal Fireworks Concert, on the floating stage, fireworks to George Frederick Handel’s Musick for the Royal Fireworks, 1749, free.

Wednesday, August 18, 7:00 p.m.: The Doobie Brothers, classic rock, $39.50–$49.50.

More »

copyright Northwest Museum of Art and Culture

June 4–6, Browne’s Addition, Spokane, WA

Don’t miss the 25th annual Northwest Museum of Art & Culture ArtFest on June 4–6 in beautiful Coeur d’ Alene Park (located just west of downtown Spokane on 2nd Ave.).

Much more than your usual arts and crafts fair, this event draws 30,000 people to enjoy quality artistic works in several mediums, artisan food (plus a beer and wine garden), music, and many activities. In addition to seeing and purchasing some fine art from talented regional artists, you can see how the art is made through live artist demonstrations of soldering stained glass, pottery wheel throwing, yarn spinning, making art with recyclable materials, watercolor, and mixed media techniques. Who knows, it might inspire you to take up a new hobby! Fourteen great music acts will keep ArtFest hopping, with styles ranging from Celtic to blues to Latin.

ArtFest 2010 is a family friendly event, with marvels including magicians, stilt walkers, and “bubbillusionists” as well as the ever-popular Make It Art area (geared for ages 3+), where kids and kids-at-heart can have their faces painted and create and take home crafts such as fish windsocks, flower leis, jewelry, and fish prints. If you will be travelling to this event from out of town with children, remember that Stratford Suites Spokane Area Hotel will make your family comfortable and happy with private bedrooms, full kitchens, and 50-inch high-def. televisions with cable and DVD players.

copyright Northwest Museum of Art and Culture

ArtFest 2010, one of the Northwest’s most respected and dynamic art fairs, runs on Friday from noon to 8:00 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but on Friday and Saturday nights, the music will keep playing and the beer and wine garden will keep serving until 10 p.m.

Are you looking for a great hotel in Spokane? Whether you are travelling to ArtFest to display and sell your art or to experience it as a visitor, Stratford Suites offers you the best lodging value in the Spokane area and is just ten minutes from Coeur d’Alene Park. Call 509-321-1600 or 888-705-8877 for reservations.

More »

If you happen to be staying at Stratford Suites Extended Stay Hotel, Northern Quest Casino and Resort, located in Airway Heights near the Spokane Airport, is just down the road and is sure to have something to entertain you during your visit to Spokane, WA. Whether you want to listen to live music, play some poker, sip on fine wine, satisfy your craving for a great steak, smoke a cigar, dance, or shop, this is your destination!

For starters, there are six restaurants ranging from fine dining to Asian style noodles to tasty pub fare. For nightlife every night of the week, you can check out Impulse, which offers comedy, live jazz, dance lessons, and more.

The resort also features a cigar lounge, sports bar, social lounge, and a relaxing lobby fireside bar. The 46,000 square-foot casino offers over 2,000 slots and progressives, 37 table games, live poker, keno, and OTB.

If you really need to relax, indulge in a Pend Oreille River Stone Massage at the new Current Salon and Spa, a beautiful, full-service spa and salon with treatments inspired by traditional Kalispel Indian healing. You can even do some shopping at the gift store and the Logo Shop clothing store.

Coming up April 6–10, Northern Quest Resort and Casino will present Cabaret, the Broadway musical that swept the 1967 Tony Awards and has since undergone several revivals and revisions, in the Pend Oreille Pavilion. You can purchase tickets by calling the resort at (509) 481-6700 or through Ticketswest.

If you travel to Northern Quest Resort and Casino for any event, consider staying at the nearby Stratford Suites Hotel, the best lodging value in the Spokane area, with full kitchens, 50” hi-def. televisions, pillow-top mattresses, and all-leather furniture in every room. Northern Quest provides free shuttle to and from Stratford Suites.

More »

The 2010 Spokane Women’s Show, featuring live music, speakers, cooking demonstrations, and a variety of booths aimed towards women’s interests, will be held April 16–18 at the Spokane Convention Center. The weekend will conclude with a fundraising walk/run to benefit the search for a cure for breast cancer. Admission to the show is $7 for the entire weekend, with a $2 discount for Race for the Cure participants. Registration for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, which consists of either a 5k run/walk or a 1 mile walk, is open; click here to register online.

Featured speaker, comedian Diana Jordan

If you need a reservation for a Spokane, WA hotel for the weekend, allow us to recommend this site’s sponsor, Stratford Suites, which is the best lodging value in the Spokane area, featuring luxury, fully furnished suites at a reasonable price.

Friday night, the show begins with Spokane singer/songwriter Brett Hite at 5:30 p.m. followed by featured speaker Diana Jordan, whom Oprah Winfrey referred to as “one of the funniest people on the planet” when she appeared on Oprah. Saturday’s notable performances include the Goodwill Fashion Show, the Spokane Dance Company, weight loss speaker Ryan Hite, and the wonderful Spokane jazz/swing band Hot Club of Spokane. Check the show’s website for a complete schedule.

2009 Goodwill Fashion Show

Spokane Women’s Show hours are Friday 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Race for the Cure begins Sunday, April 18 at 9 a.m. in front of the FedEx/Kinkos on West Spokane Falls Boulevard.

If you book at Stratford Suites Extended Stay Hotel for the event, be sure to ask about the convenient town car shuttle service and Shop & Stay packages, which include a gift certificate to River Park Square in downtown Spokane. Call 888-705-8877 for more information.

More »

The thrilling display even replicates the earthquakes, volcanoes, and comet impacts of the Triassic and Cetaceous periods (208–144 and 144–65 million years ago, respectively), but this show is suitable for all ages. Adults and children alike will be enthralled. Book your family’s adventure soon—when the show came to Spokane in 2007, shows sold out! An ideal Spokane area hotel to stay at, especially if you are bringing children to the show, is Stratford Suites. The two-bedroom suites provide privacy for families, and a fully equipped kitchen in every suite gives you the convenience and affordability of eating in.

Come watch the Ornithocheirus, the largest creature to ever fly, the Allosaurus, known as the lion of the Jurassic, the T-Rex, king of prehistoric predators, and other amazing favorites come to life this April. Get ready for the show by designing your own virtual dinosaur, piecing together a dinosaur from skeleton pieces, and playing a game of digging for dinosaurs at the Walking with Dinosaurs website.

Walking with Dinosaurs tickets are available through TicketsWest, or just go to the Spokane Arena website. When you book your luxurious, fully-furnished suite at Stratford Suites hotel, be sure to check out our shop and stay packages for a weekend of Spokane shopping and fun.

More »

Copyright 2005 Creative Edge Marketing and Event Management and its licensors.

Pamper Yourself at the Health Beauty Spa Show January 16–17, Spokane Community College Lair

Recover from the holidays with a relaxing massage and sample all the latest beauty treatments at Spokane’s popular Health Beauty Spa Show, sponsored by Northwest Woman Magazine. This unique, big event is the best (and cheapest!) way to try out all the spa treatments you have been curious about—from anti-aging facials, microcurrent face lifts, and the hottest new make-up to aroma therapy massage, bio-feedback, and vibration therapy.

Over sixty exhibitors with a wide variety of services and products are participating. If you travel to the event, choose the Spokane area hotel Stratford Suites to make a luxurious weekend out of it with heavenly pillow-top mattresses and down pillows, leather furniture, full kitchen, and 50” hi-definition televisions in every room.

Tips if you go:

• Sample treatments are $5 each. If you are in a hurry and have your heart set on trying a specific service, arrive in the morning to avoid waits as many treatments are very popular.
• The show is accepting non-perishable food and hygiene items for the YWCA, and if you bring an item to donate, admission is only $5 (regular price is $7).
• Go to the website before you go to get a coupon to bring mom free and to buy three treatments for only $10.
• Flying in for the show? Stay at Stratford Suites extended stay hotel and ask about our executive style shuttle service.

More »

Anyone who wants a great party on December 31st should visit Spokane for First Night. Make the most of your trip with a hotel stay at Stratford Suites, which offers both short term and extended stays. take advantage of our shuttle to avoid the downtown parking hassle.

When you get downtown, find the event you want to attend by checking out First Night’s website. For the event, Spokane will be divided into four Party Zones, each with their own schedule. Headliners are Brothers from Different Mothers, two hilarious prop comedians; Ashe, a West African music and dance troupe, and the illustrious Archduchy of Alhambra, Adrian Empire, who will mystify and educate with a special tarot reading.

River Park Square, the Convention Center, City Hall, Auntie’s Books, River Front Park, the STA, several downtown banks, the Spokane Public Library, the Bing Crosby Theater, and many other locations will be hosting events that range from arts and crafts for kids (Avista Kids Night Out at the Spokane Convention Center), to a gospel choir (STA, 2nd floor), bonfires (Spokane Falls Blvd.), free carousel rides (Looff Carousel, River Front Park), North by Northwest’s 48-Hour Film Festival (City Hall), and so much more!

Your First Night button will also get you free admission to the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture on January 1st from 10AM-6PM. You can enjoy the museum’s exhibits as well as special performances by a magician, a Bubblillusionist, and a dance company. Kids will have a blast!

Check out a full schedule and map at www.firstnightspokane.org. You can also enter to win many great prizes at the site, including a 32” HD flat screen TV.

Have a Happy New Year!

More »

Experience the nation’s elite figure skating stars and enjoy Spokane’s finest extended stay hotel.

Package includes one night stay in a luxury 1 or 2 bedroom suite with full kitchen, 50″ HDTV, and a round-trip Lincoln Town Car shuttle.

More »

U.S. Figure Skating Championships, January 14–24, 2010

Next month, figure skating fans will travel to Spokane from far and wide to catch the nation’s most prestigious figure skating event. There are still a few tickets left to experience the competitions live at the Spokane Arena, but they are going fast. The championships will also be nationally televised live on NBC and webcast on icenetwork.com. Over the course of nine days, the event will crown twelve national champions in ladies’, men’s, pairs, and ice dancing on the senior, junior, and novice levels. This is the final event before the selection of the U.S. team that will compete eighteen days later in Vancouver, so do not miss this opportunity to see potential Olympic gold winners!

If you are travelling to Spokane for this momentous ice skating event, book your room now at Stratford Suites for luxury accommodations and outstanding hospitality. Hotels are filling up fast; when Spokane hosted the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, a record crowd of 154,893 attended, and this year will likely be even more successful.

Get Up-Close and Personal with the Ice Stars at FanFest! In 2007, Star U.S.A., which locally manages the championships, had the great idea of a community gathering place where fans, both Spokane natives and visitors, could meet the athletes during the championships. FanFest was so hugely popular that this time around it will be held in River Park Square, the premier shopping, dining, and entertainment destination in downtown Spokane, to accommodate the crowds.

The family-friendly event is free and open to the public and will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday, January 15th and continue with an approximate schedule of 10 a.m.–7 p.m. every day until the final day, when festivities will continue until 11 p.m. or later. Check the activity boards for competition schedules, autograph sessions with the figure skating stars, and other fan events. Safeway, a sponsor, will host a food and beverage booth, and there will be entertainment and live broadcasts from KHQ and Dave, Ken, and Molly of 92.9 FM.

While you are hanging out at FanFest, you can see a movie at the AMC, enjoy fine dining at one of several great restaurants, get a new hairstyle for the holidays, view art in the Kress Gallery, and shop for just about anything! Check out Stratford Suites Shop and Stay Package, which includes a night or two at Spokane’s best extended stay hotel as well as a gift certificate to River Park Square.

More »